Wrench



E. GRAHAM May 26, 1942. Y

WRENCH Filed Jan. 16, 1941 Patented May 26, 1942 WRENCH Graham, Lebanon, Tenn. l Appena-ion January 16, 1941, seraiN. 374,747

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of tools and pertains particularly to improvements in wrenches.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a wrench which is constructed in such a manner that by theuse-of one hand only, an easy and quick adjustment may be accomplished between the cooperating jaws, means being provided'whereby the jaws are constantly urged toward one'another so that after the jaws havev been separated to the proper extent to receive an object, they will'autoniatically close on the object to grip the same. j

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench in which means is provided for constantly urging the vjaws to move together or toward one another and in which the construction is such that when the wrench is idle, there will be no direct-contact between the serrated or toothed facesA of the jaws.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench structure of the character stated in which the cooperating jaws are coupled together in such manner that after an object has been gripped between the jaws and the necessary force applied to thehandle of the wrench,

lthe jaws will be rocked relatively to close in upon orv tighten their grip on theinterposed object.

Still another object is to provide a wrench of the character above stated in which the construction is such that when the wrench is applied to an object and pressure is brought to bear upon the handle of the wrench, the jaws will be automatically coupled together so that the force applied to the handle will be transmitted'to the jaw opposing the one which is directly connected with the handle to pull the jaws toward one another and into tight engagement with the said interposed object. j

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it being understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as limited by the specific illustration or description but that such illustrationA and description constitutes a Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 oi' Fig. 1. y

Referring now more particularly tothe drawing, the numeral I generally designates the handle of the wrench, the forward endxportion of which is slightly enlarged, as indicated at 2, to form a head. The forward end of this head is toothed or cut to form a jaw 3. One longitudinal edge of the head portion of the handle adjacent the jaw is angled or cut backfrom the line of the adjacent edge of the handle, as indicated at'4, and this edge has formed integral therewith thesingle tooth which operates to couple the handle jaw with the shiftable jaw of the wrench in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

The numeral 6 designates an elongated frame body which is substantially U-shaped in crosssection whereby there are provided the spaced parallel side walls I and the cross top wall 8.

As stated, the body 6 is of substantial length and adjacent one end it carries a pivot pin 9, which extends across between the walls I yand'which passes throughthe head end of the handle I in relativelyV close proximity to the edge 4 and slightly to the rear' of the tooth 5.v The handle I yis supported between the sides of the frame 6 in a position to leave a-space between its top edge relation with the jawf3. The top of the shank ii) is set in from the back face I3 of the shiftable jaw head,vthus forming a shoulder I4 which abuts againstv the adjacent end of the wall 8 of the frame body to limit the movement of the head Il toward the jaw 3. AtY its opposite end l the shank I has formed integral therewith the enlarged tail piece I5 which has the inner and outer shoulders I6 and I'I,'the shoulder I6 being in opposed relation with the shoulder I4 and functioning as a stop for the forward movement of the shank through Contact with theradjacent 4end of the Wall 8. Y

Interposed between the shank I0 and the adjacent or top edge of the handle I is arpin I8 which extends across between the sides '1 of the frame body.Y This pin is at the end of the frame remote from the pivot pin 9 and in addition to yforming an abutment against which the Yinner shoulder I'IV engages when the shank is pushed forwardly, it serves as an anchor for an actuat- `grasping of the objectbetween the jaws.

ing or control spring I9, one end of which is attached to the pin I8, as shown.

'Ihe inner side of the shank I0 is cut out or channeled slightly, as indicated at 20, in which the spring I9 positions and at the forward end of this channel is fixed a pin 2| to which the opposite end of the spring I9 is attached. This springwis of the contractile type land, therefore, constantly tends to draw the shank I9 back from the forward end of the tool so as to move the head I I toward the jaw face 3.

Forwardly of the spring I9,the shank I0 is provided upon its inner face with the transverse teeth 22, with which the single tooth carried by' the handle head 2 cooperates in the use of the tool.

In the use of the Wrench, the operator grasping the handle I in his hand, employs the thumb' of that same hand to force the shank I0 forwardly, the thumb being placed vagainst-[the tail piece I5 for this purpose. In this way, vthe proper separation of the jaws 3 and I2 can be obtained to receive an object such as the pipe 23 shown in Fig. 2.' The tail piece I5, as-shown,

slides upon the back. edge of the handle I and the back or outer edge of the shank slides along the inner face ofthe wall 8 of the frame body. Thus the shankand handle are moved relatively inV parallel planes. After the jaws havebeen separated suciently to receive the object, the opera-i tor releases the tail piece, thus permittingthe stretched or tensioned spring to react and draw the jaw head VI I back, thus bringing about the When the handle I is then forced in a Vdirection to turn whiie tooth carried by said handle upon the oblique Vportion of said edge, said handle carried tooth being separated from the teeth of said shank when the handle and shank are in substantially parallelrelation whereby free sliding movement of the shank on said edge of and with respect to the handle is possible.

-2. A wrench of the character stated, comprising an elongated handle having a gripping jaw at one end,l a frame enclosing one edge of the handle adjacent the jaw end thereof, said frame including spaced side portions between which the said end of thehandle is disposed, a pivot pin extending through the said jaw end of the handle and coupling the same with said side portions, the said 4one edge of the handle being in spaced relation with a portion of the frame to form a guide, the said one'edge ofthe handle adjacent the jaw end being cut obliquely away from the overlying portion of the frame, a tooth upon the said obliquely cut edge of the handle, `a shiftable jaw having a shank extending .through said guide,

' said shank having stop shoulders at eachend for g relation with said handle jaw, a plurality ofV teeth formed transversely of the shank adjacent the Y shiftable head for selective engagement by said it or tend to turn it on its pivotpin 9 in a clockv ,wise direction, it will be seen that ythe handleV Itooth 5 will be rocked into engagementbetween a pair of teeth 22, thus couplingthe head 2 with` the shank IIJ in such way as to draw the head I I toward the jaw 3 and into engagement with the I interposed object, thereby insuring Va rm grip upon the object even though thesame lmay be of tooth, and springmeans disposed between the shank and the said one edge of the handleand having one end connected with the frame and having. its other end connected with the shank and normally tending to move the shiftable head toward the handle jaw.'

3. A wrench of thecharacter stated, comprising an elongated handle having a gripping jaw at adjacent` thejaw end thereof, said frame including spaced side portions between which the said end of the handle is disposed, a pivot pin extend- Y ing through the said jaw end `of the handle and coupling the same with said side portions, the said one edge of the handle being in spaced relation with a portionof thefframe to form a guide, the said one edge of the handle adjacent the jaw end being cut obliquely away from the overlying portion of the .framefa `tooth upon the :said obliquely cut edge of thehandle, a shiftable jaw having a shank extending through said guide,

is permitted to come by the adjacent end of the frame body.

What is claimed is: l. A wrench, comprising an elongated handle Vhaving a jaw at one end, a frame enclosing an edge" cut obliquelyacross the handle, a movable y jaw Ah eadhaving a shankY slidably extended betweenthe said edge of the handle rand the frame,

said shank having stop shoulders at each end for engagement with the adjacent end of the body, said shiftable head having a jaw face in opposed relation with said handle jaw, a plurality of teeth formed;transversely of the shank adjacent the shiftable 'head for selective engagement by said tooth,` spring means disposed between the shank andthe saidV one edge lof the handle and having one end connected with the frame-and havingits other end connected with the shank said head having a jaw face in;cooperativerela tionwith the handlejaw, resilient means cou# pling saidshank withgthe frame and tending to draw said jawstogether, means for establishing a locking connection betweensaidshank and the handle jaw'when the handle is. oscillated in one the said one edge'of the handle, and asingle and normally tending to move the shiftable head toward the handle jaw, and a tail vpiece carried by saidshank and having sliding movement upon the said one edge of the handle when the shank and handle are substantially parallel, the said first tooth and the teeth of the shank being separated whenjthe shank and handle are substan-- tially parallel whereby -free .sliding movement of the shank lengthwise of the handle is made possible.

EDWARD GRAHAM. 

